From Lance Jennings
Santa Maria, CA – (June 11, 2013) — After a break in the schedule, the USAC Western Classic Racing Series (WCRS) will take on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprints this Friday, June 14th, at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway. The quarter-mile oval at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds will also showcase 4-Bangers, Modifieds, and Sport Mods. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm with Racing set to begin at 6:00pm.
Entering the season’s third point race, Ryan Bernal of Hollister has a 26 point advantage over the competition. On May 4th, the driver of Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike earned his second straight win of the year at Placerville. To date, the point leader also has one Kaeding Performance / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award and 53 feature laps led to his credit. Ryan will be looking to continue his championship bid with a “home track” victory this Friday night.
After scoring fourth and setting a new track record at Placerville, Stockton’s D.J. Johnson has climbed to second in the point chase. Piloting the family owned #33 Unique Breeds / Proplant Farm Services Eagle, Johnson has one Saldana Racing Products / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, one Kaeding Performance / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, and two top-10 finishes in the campaign. The leading rookie contender will have his sights on claiming his first win this Friday night.
Tony Hunt of Lincoln has moved to third in the point standings. Racing the Mike Phulps owned #56 Metal Works / Red Line Oil Maxim, Hunt claimed seventh at Placerville Speedway. As this writing goes to press, the defending series champion has two top-10 finishes on the season. This Friday night, Tony will be looking to gain valuable points with his first win at Ocean Speedway.
Sitting fourth in championship points is Brentwood’s Colton Slack. Driving the family owned #17 S&S Automotive / Vornhagen Body & Paint Maxim, Slack claimed fourteenth at Placerville. With one top-10 finish, the rookie contender and his carbureted machine will be looking to give the veterans a run for their money at Watsonville.
Matt Streeter of Galt is tied for fourth in the point chase. Piloting his #14JR T&T Trucking / S&S Automotive Maxim, the former BCRA Midget Champion ran thirteenth at Placerville. To date, Streeter has one top-10 finish and will have his sights on adding a Watsonville main event to his resume.
Among the other top WCRS contenders expected to be in action are Jim Richardson, Shauna Hogg, Gordon Rodgers, Tanner Swanson, Nathan Washam, Klint Simpson, Scott Hall, Tom Baker, and more.
Heading into Friday’s show, “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads the USAC/CRA point chase. The 2005 Champion is followed by Nic Faas, 5-time champion Mike Spencer, Bud Kaeding, Matt Mitchell, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Austin Williams, Brody Roa, R.J. Johnson, and Ryan Bernal. Gardner leads all drivers with three feature wins and Bryan Clauson has two victories. Mitchell won the “Salute To Indy” at Perris on May 25th and other wins have gone to Faas, Johnson, and Spencer.
All competitors must run quiet mufflers at the Watsonville. Ocean Speedway has a strict muffler rule and asks competitors to run the Extreme Ventura Legal (4615-3535-8), FlowMaster Suitcase, Spintech Suitcase, or Extreme (6014-3530) and Spin Tech 180 degree mufflers. Local track sound standards must be met in order to compete and failure to do so risks disqualification.
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California at 2601 E. Lake Avenue. Adult Tickets are $20, Senior Tickets (over 65) are $19, Kid Tickets (12-6) are $15, and Family Passes (2 Adults & 2 Kids) are $55. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.oceanspeedway.com or call (831) 662-9466 (WINN).
The USAC Western Classic Racing Series would like to thank Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, SBI Fuel Systems, and Saldana Racing Products for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
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USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ryan Bernal-140; 2-D.J. Johnson-114; 3-Tony Hunt-102; 4-Colton Slack-93; –Matt Streeter-93; 6-Jim Richardson-81; 7-Shauna Hogg-74; 8-Gordon Rodgers-68; 9-James Sweeney-67; 10-Tanner Swanson-62; 11-Max Adams-61; 12-Jimmy Trulli 58; 13-Marc Mackay-53; 14-Nathan Washam-52; 15-C.J. Humphreys-42; 16-Klint Simpson-40; —Scott Hall-40; 18-Justin Johnson-37; 19-Tom Baker-28; 20-A.J. Kirkpatrick-27.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Damion Gardner-596; 2-Nic Faas-565; 3-Mike Spencer-484; 4-Bud Kaeding-472; 5-Matt Mitchell-357; 6-Cody Williams-349; 7-Austin Williams-347; 8-Brody Roa-324; 9-R.J. Johnson-300; 10-Ryan Bernal-267; 11-Rip Williams-233; 12-Charles Davis Jr.-232; 13-David Cardey-228; 14-Seth Wilson-224; 15-Rickie Gaunt-215; 16-Bryan Clauson-210; 17-Richard Vander Weerd-196; 18-Mike Martin-191; 19-David Bezio-132; —Jace Vander Weerd-132.
2013 USAC WESTERN CLASSIC RACING SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
June 14: *Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
June 21: Stockton 99 Dirt Track – Stockton, CA
July 12: Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA (Howard Kaeding Classic)
August 9: *Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
August 17: Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway – Fernley, NV
August 31: *Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 1: *Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 5: Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions)
TBA: Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway – Fernley, NV
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series.
This schedule is subject to change.